World War II Honoree

Walter E. Petrie

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Villa Park, Illinois

Honored By

Walter E. Petrie

Relationship

Self

ENTERED ARMY SPECIALIZED TRAINING PROGRAM (RESERVE) IN JULY 1944, AT RIPON, WISCONSIN COLLEGE. BASIC TRAINING, JANUARY 1945; CAMP FANNIN, TEXAS. ADVANCED INFANTRY TRAINING; CAMP HOWZE, TEXAS. SENT TO PACIFIC THEATER, JULY 1945 ON SHIP WHICH TOOK 39 DAYS TO REACH LEYTE, PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, JUST AS SECOND ATOMIC BOMB DROPPED ON JAPAN. ASSIGNED TO 21ST INFANTRY, 24TH DIVISION AS 81MM MORTAR MAN. OUTFIT SENT TO OCCUPATION OF JAPAN AS 21ST REGIMENTAL COMBAT TEAM. AFTER MASS RETURN OF SOLDIERS TO U.S. FOR DEMOBILIZATION, WAS MADE THE ACTING SERGEANT MAJOR UNTIL RETURN TO U.S. IN DECEMBER 1946.